I’ve never DJ’ed in Romania or Turkey before so I’m especially psyched for those. If you happen to be in any of these cities then I hope to see you at a gig. Posters below … click on the corresponding image for more information on that show.
Back to school! Neither ‘old school’ nor ‘new school’ this time around, though, as Invisible Airwaves strives to teach within a school of its own. Thus our assignment consists of another heated selection of unique, cool tunes that your host has assembled from various bits discovered over the course of the month. Our coursework definitely includes a study of history while also looking ahead to the realms of rhythm science. Pay attention, students: everything old is new again. Regardless, you’ll be happy to stay after class for this one. Here’s the track list:
If you miss the show then the stations will be repeating it throughout the month. Play.FM will also have the show available on demand after its first airing. I’ll also be posting the mix to my Mixcloud page towards the end of the month.
If you’d like to air my monthly program on your Internet or terrestrial radio station then please contact me by clicking HERE.
Listing some of the more interesting links, tunes, and topics that have recently entered the Q-BAM orbit, as sporadically posted on my Twitter, Facebook, or Google+ pages.
An online article that I can totally relate to: Kill Your Plug-ins and Up Your Music Production Skills. I’m switching out my studio computer over the next week (going from ‘really outdated’ to ‘somewhat outdated’) and had already decided to start from scratch as far as plug-ins and the like go. I’m going to leave about 80% of my soft-synth/effects plugs behind, focusing on the few that I use repeatedly. Like the author of this piece, the more plug-ins I have (and the more complex they are) the more I find myself road-blocked, either endlessly tweaking parameters or just creatively paralyzed by too many options. I realize it’s not the same for every creative person … I know quite a few who get quite inspired by adding the latest, fanciest new plug-in to their arsenal. Unfortunately, I’m not that person. I look forward to my future zen garden of music plug-ins.
After the release of Cole Medina’s well-received remixes of “Innocent,” Eighth Dimension and Q-Burns Abstract Message believed all versions of this classic tune had been tapped. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Italian DJ duo Presslaboys have taken everyone by surprise with a new pair of stunning “Innocent” versions. It seems that Presslaboys had prodded the remix parts from the hands of Q-Burns Abstract Message in an unguarded moment, stealthily concocting their version over a few months in their secret Presslab Records studio. Fellow Italian DJ Gianluca Peruzzi joined Presslaboys on the main mix which fuses the gorgeous vocals of Lisa Shaw to a wholly original music accompaniment. The music swells and rises above notably solid club rhythms delivering a house music potion suitable for consuming in big rooms and late, late nights. The dub pares down Lisa’s vocal and accentuates the shimmering music-scape as some seriously tough house beats point the way to the dance floor. All of this adds up to a nice surprise from Eighth Dimension, Q-Burns Abstract Message, and Presslaboys to close out the summer while warming up select DJ sets.
Graeme Park – “This has brightened up my day no end! Wonderful.“ DJ Chus (Chus & Ceballos) – “Presslaboys main mix for me. I love it!“ Scott Hardkiss (God Within) – “Fantastic! Beautiful! Brilliant! These remixes should really tear it up in both big fancy clubs and radical underground parties. Lisa Shaw’s voice is as unique as ever. Q-Burns Abstract Message is officially now on a major roll!“ Kenneth Thomas (Perfecto) – “Nice!“ Redanka (Tarrentella & Redanka) – “Good mixes! Love the dub.“
I’ve been seriously collecting vinyl since the mid-80′s, constantly digging for both rare bits and the latest 12″ goodies for as long as I can remember. House music, alternative and punk, rare sixties experimental electronics, Krautrock, spacey downtempo records … hardly any genre’s been left unturned. This means I’ve got loads of vinyl. Tons … it’s everywhere in my house. If you open my closets, look under my bed, peer into corners of various rooms in my home, you’ll find stacks of the proverbial wax. Recently I’ve decided I need to cut back – way back – and sell off some of these treasures to others who may also appreciate and get some use out of them. The thing is, I find myself regularly only playing about 10% of my collection (which is still a lot) but that other 90% is feeling a bit neglected. So, along come the fine folks at Discogs.com and their easy process of listing and selling used tunes to the rescue. I have been using them for a couple years, and I’ll probably break 1,000 listings in a month’s time, so there’s already plenty from my collection to peruse if you’re game. I’m adding stuff every week, and I’m running across loads of rare titles that I’m amazed I still have. So, be sure to keep an eye on my Discogs seller’s page … no telling what I’ll find hiding under my bed.
Barreling down like a late summer’s hurricane it’s the a new Invisible Airwaves mix full of tropical treats and wind-swept anthems alike. Resembling a weather satellite this set floats firmly on the edge of space with more than a few billowy moments. It starts out a bit on the tough side but soon eases into a proper cool breeze, all groove and no compromise. As clear as an azure sky of deepest summer. Here’s this month’s track list:
Rico Casazza – Flutes Liebe (Brendon Moeller Remix) – Release Sustain Jamie Blanco – Night Closure – Cynic Records Bourer The Funk – Lovely Power (Diamond Dealer Remix) – Brilliant Cut Media Abstraxion – Jus Acid (Jacques Renault Remix) – Different Recordings Joakim – Forever Young (Discodeine Remix) – TigerSushi Puller Productions – Sentimental Feelings (Ray Mang Remix) – Valley Sound Tiger Stripes – Together (Marcin Czubala Remix) – Gruuv DJ Cam featuring Chris James – Swim (Conforce Remix) – Inflamable Records Tom Budden – Someday – Extended Play Anthony Mansfield & DJ Garth – Pancho’s Revenge – Hector Works Phreek Plus One ft. Mr. White – Passion (DJ T. Remix) – Compost Black Label Deep Space Orchestra – Witch Doctor (Toby Tobias Edit) – Tracky Bottoms Jaswho? – My History (40 Thieves Remix) – Temple Music Group The Units – Red (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix) – Opilec Music Los Charly’s Orchestra – Disco Gamma (Pete Herbert Remix) – Imagenes Frank Agrario – Passport – Solar Disco Recordings Jamie L – Something Better (Flash Atkins Mix) – Paper Recordings Dutch Rhythm Combo feat. ISA GT – Alerta (Luminodisco Happy Remix) – Danny Was a Drag King Asha Puthli – Space Talk (78Edits Re-Edit) – Audio Parallax Records Q-Burns Abstract Message – Balearic Chainsaw (Gazeebo’s Reprise) – Eighth Dimension Records
You can hear Invisible Airwaves each month on these stations:
If you miss the show then the stations will be repeating it throughout the month. Play.FM will also have the show available on demand after its first airing. I’ll also be posting the mix to my Mixcloud page towards the end of the month.
If you’d like to air my monthly program on your Internet or terrestrial radio station then please contact me by clicking HERE.
Summer’s mid-section brings us a rollicking DJ set from yours truly, haphazardly pouncing on a few musical styles before settling on a deeply calming final quarter. It can only be the sound of our monthly Invisible Airwaves excursion, with the controlled schizophrenia of this two hour mix brought to bear by a collection of outstanding tunes. Patience is its own reward. Here’s the track list:
Q-Burns Abstract Message – Balearic Chainsaw (Scott Hardkiss Dub) – Eighth Dimension Records Eddie F – Unbound – Wicked Imprint Atnarko feat. Sam Mollison – Thinking Of You (Pezzner’s Instrumental) – Lazy Days Recordings Vahagn – Relapse (Nick Chacona Remix) – Buzzin’ Fly Miguel Puente – Mismo Tiempo (Bioniq Groover Mix) – Dialtone Sex Judas feat. Ricky – Everything Changes (Tim Paris ‘Mind Power’ Edit) – Marketing Music Rotciv – The Classic Age – D-Edge Records Mastercris – Blue Road (Sunshine Jones Mix) – Seamless Recordings Rudy’s Midnight Machine – East Side Good Living – Retrofit Recordings The Human League – Sky (Martin Brodin Remix) – Wall of Sound Auxiliary Tha Masterfader – Disco Dictator (Luke Million Remix) – Homebreakin Records Motor City Drum Ensemble – L.O.V.E. – !K7 Records Miracle Boy – Octopus (Deep Space Orchestra Remix Remix) – Bored Audio Matin – I Think I Miss You – Assembly Records LateComer – The Magic Carpet – Trendy Mullet Recordings Birdcage – Say A Little Prayer – Untitled & After Benoit & Sergio – Let Me Count The Ways (Autumn Version) – Spectral Sound The Frollix – Just To Be There (Pseudonym Remix) – Bored Audio Brian Eno – Imagine New Times (short excerpt) – Warp Records
You can hear Invisible Airwaves each month on these stations:
If you miss the show then the stations will be repeating it throughout the month. Play.FM will also have the show available on demand after its first airing. I’ll also be posting the mix to my Mixcloud page towards the end of the month.
If you’d like to air my monthly program on your Internet or terrestrial radio station then please contact me by clicking HERE.
True story: Q-Burns Abstract Message once DJ’ed underneath a weighty chainsaw covered in disco ball mirror squares, rotating roundly with silver beams flying off its blade. Imagine such a devious device honed for dance-floor devastation, its rumble tuned to bass-bin frequencies as its saw cuts through beats and melody. But we’re talking about a chainsaw wielded by beardy types, waving its mirror ball excess over sunrise-stroked beach sand. We blissfully believe this could be the sound of the “Balearic Chainsaw.”
The original “Balearic Chainsaw” is an extended, beefier version of what was previously found on the “Chainsaw” single, released spring 2011 on EIGHT-TRACKS. The piano-fueled, flamenco guitar-kissed version was hidden as the last song in the single. To our surprise, friends and foes alike asked for a longer version to send resonating over the waterfront. The requests have been answered, and this new version features an added groove coda that should send your neighbors dancing into the moon beams.Â
Who else could be more perfect for such flights of fancy than our long-time chum Scott Hardkiss? Coming off the brilliant Technicolor Dreamer album on his own God Within label, Scott tackled “Balearic Chainsaw” with a combination of gusto and happenstance. His mix is a rising force, solid rhythms and huggable bass lines anchoring a building swarm of piano, guitar, and cosmic, acid atmosphere. Not content with such mere musical coolness, Scott enlisted the gorgeous vocal contribution of Stevvi Alexander to further the “Balearic Chainsaw” message. Uplifting ain’t the half of it
Then there’s Scott’s remarkable Dub variation. Wild swirls of sound take control of this special version, aided by the unexpected contribution of DJ Afro from Los Amigos Invisibles, supplying his own dueling flamenco guitar strums and riffs. Euphoric motion for the most summery of dance-floors … it’s a classic Hardkiss maneuver.Â
A party like this needs a proper come-down, and for our back-to-mine moment we’ve enlisted the reputable chops of Gazeebo, mainstay of Denver’s Community Recordings. Working out an Italo/nu-disco throb, Gazeebo’s slinky rendition hits all the tingle buttons, giving us a slow motion refuge that still packs a low-end punch. It’s fitting and superb power-down for this “Balearic Chainsaw.”
Kaskade – “This is really nice, beautiful vocal and perfect summer vibe. Dig it.” Nick Warren – “Great mixes by Scott and the Gazeebo reprise is ace.” Anthony Pappa – “My favourite is “Gazeebo’s Reprise” and l will play this out.” diskJokke – “Lovely tracks, full support.” Ric McClelland (Scope) – “A very nice package.. I’m digging the original, Hardkiss dub, and the Gazeboo Reprise.” Gavin Hardkiss (Hawke) – “F**king stellar … these mixes will be played all summer.” Justin Harris (Freaks) – “I love Scott’s dub, and the original works, too, in the right place.”Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “The Gazeebo Reprise is my favorite, but the extended original is nice, too. Spacey!” Greg Fenton (DMC Update) – “Great set of mixes, hard to choose a favorite.” Ray Mang – “Gazeebo’s got some depth! Quite like the Hardkiss Dub, too.” Will SumSuch (UrbanTorque) – “Nice package with a real sense of fun. I like it a lot. The Hardkiss dub is the one for me.” Marco Fullone (Radio Monte Carlo) – “A Balearic sound masterpiece!” Kosmas Epsilon (Proton Radio) – “Original and Gazeebo mixes are pure bliss! Amazing songs.” Dj Nova (Rodon FM Greece) – “This is the absolute Balearic release of 2011! Es Vedra found its soundtrack this year.” Harry Avers (NOICE!) – “F**king amazing Dub by Scott…. love the guitars.” DJ Naz (Buddha Bar) – “Ah, balearic classic! Absolutely superb. I see this working super well at the beach parties this year in Ibiza.”
The latest two hour Invisible Airwaves DJ mix is now streaming on Mixcloud, complete with a timestamped track list. Loads of luscious tunes within, including a couple remixes by yours truly and the latest Eighth Dimension joint. Have a listen:
When I started really seriously getting into house music in the mid-90′s I found myself enamored with a small London imprint by the name of Luxury Service. After a few of its impressive releases permanently landed in the DJ bag I had declared it my favorite house music label. Luxury Service, though not well known today, was the home to some of the earliest works of music producers we’ve all become big fans of, including Rob Mello, Luke Solomon, and Justin Harris. Another producer who recorded for Luxury Service and really grabbed my attention was Kenny Hawkes. There was something unique about his music … it seemed deeper, but not in the sense of “deep house” but in that it gave the impression that there was something else going on here … like Kenny was trying to do more than just make “tracks,” actively working to move the genre forward even as it was still quite young.
So, I’m a bit fuzzy on the time period but it think it was 2000 and I’m regularly DJ’ing at Orlando’s Knock Knock (my favorite venue ever). My main weekly night DJ’ing the club was Thursday, as I was usually spending my weekends haunting airports at that time, but Thursdays became a nice, tight little night of cool tunes and forgotten bar tabs. I caught wind that Kenny Hawkes was to be on the US east coast and was looking to DJ somewhere on a weekday for a small fee in between his better-paying weekend gigs. My night was tiny (we didn’t charge a cover, either) so the budget was minimal but Kenny was down, and he came to Orlando and tore apart the rickety Knock Knock DJ booth and undependable sound system with spectacular tunes mixed as only Kenny could. (side note: I have part of this set on a cassette tape somewhere, which I need to find) We hit it off which was easy to do as Kenny turned out to be a warm and hilarious person, really into his music. He became quick friends with some others in Orlando as well and a nice little bond was formed, with Kenny returning to Orlando multiple times over the next couple years and DJ’ing at Knock Knock once again.
I would run into Kenny in my travels (he was also spending a lot of time in San Francisco in the early 00′s, as was I) and we kept in touch online, sharing tracks and remixes. The last time I saw him was a couple years ago when by chance I got booked to play a party in London with Kenny at The Egg. It was a great party and, gladly, though we were DJ’ing in different rooms our times didn’t overlap too much so I could hear most of Kenny’s set. He was on point … I hadn’t really heard him out live since those early Knock Knock sets (and never on a sound system as good as The Egg’s) and he sounded great. After he played we sat in the ‘chill out’ area of the club and talked for almost two hours as the rising sun pounded our eyes.
A lot of Kenny Hawkes’ music is getting posted around which is so great and moving. But I haven’t seen my favorite bit from Kenny’s oeuvre mentioned yet which is this remix for Toob:
There’s just something completely special about this. Such a sleek remix, very technical but also quite warm and melancholy. The build is so subtle but undeniably effective. To recall what I mentioned above it seems there’s “something else going on here” … Kenny wasn’t just going into the studio and knocking out a remix. It seems to me he was really trying to touch the future. Man, I’ll miss that guy.
I’ve been seriously collecting vinyl since the mid-80′s, constantly digging for both rare bits and the latest 12″ goodies for as long as I can remember. House music, alternative and punk, rare sixties experimental electronics, Krautrock, spacey downtempo records … hardly any genre’s been left unturned. This means I’ve got loads of vinyl. Tons … it’s everywhere in my house. If you open my closets, look under my bed, peer into corners of various rooms in my home, you’ll find stacks of the proverbial wax. Recently I’ve decided I need to cut back – way back – and sell off some of these treasures to others who may also appreciate and get some use out of them. The thing is, I find myself regularly only playing about 10% of my collection (which is still a lot) but that other 90% is feeling a bit neglected. So, along come the fine folks at 
